Adjustable instrument bench



A imn'iamml March 1964 D. WfSCHULZE ETAL 3,123,353

ADJUSTABLE INSTRUMENT BENCH Filed Nov. 5, 1962 2 A l5 4pm INVENTORS DOUGLAS W. SCHULZE WILLIAM J. FOOTE ATTORNEY United States Patent 6 3,123,353 ADJUSTABLE INSTRUMENT BENCH Douglas W. Schulze, Salina Star Rte., and William J. Foote, 345 S. 38th St., both of Boulder, Colo. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,180 4 Claims. (Cl. 26982) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to an adjustable stand or support for apparatus or instrumentation, and particularly to an adjustable laboratory bench of the type used in a laboratory of chemistry, optics, electronics, mechanics, and the like, where vlariable apparatus set-ups are erected and disassembled.

Prior art means for mounting and supporting apparatus or instrumentation include the use of mechanical jacks, support blocks, flexible or erecter frames and rods, adjustable clamps of various types, movable stands, special brackets, etc. These prior art means often are unstable and a complete system often is not portable as a unit. Some of these prior art means require the use of special tools to assemble and disassemble them and some are very difficult or inconvenient to align \along a given centerline. Among other disadvantages of these prior art means for supporting or mounting apparatus are lack of rigidity, the use of a large number of parts, time consuming assembly and disassembly operations, excessive bulk, excessive Weight, lack of versatility, etc.

Accordingly, it is an import-ant object of this invention to provide an improved stand or support for supporting or mounting apparatus or instrumentation which is more rigid, adjustable and transportable than prior :art means employed for such purposes.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a stand or support which is characterized in that the apparatus or instrumentation supported or mounted thereon, or thereby, is conveniently and rapidly aligned on a desired centerline without the necessity of using any auxiliary aligning tools.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adjustable laboratory bench flor laboratory apparatus or instniment-ation which consists of a minimum of parts capable of rapid assembly, a maximum of versatility for orientation of supported apparatus or instrumentation, and convenient, compact storage of disassembled parts of the bench.

Additional objects will become apparent from the following desoription, which is given primarily for purposes of illustration, and not limitation.

Stated in general terms, the objects of this invention are attained by providing an adjustable stand, support or bench which includes a base plate member, which preferably is elongate, and preferably has parallel sides and square ends. The base plate member is provided with a pair of spaced parallel channel elements, preferably channel bars, with the insides of their channels facing each other. The channel elements preferably are remov-ably attached to the base plate element, preferably at one flange of each channel bar and preferably each in alignment with a side of the base plate member.

A plurality of locking plate means are included in the bench assembly. The locking plate means are provided with one or more internally threaded holes and these locking means are disposed or positioned transice ment of the locking plate means in the channel elements.

Locking post elements provided with external threads are threaded into threaded holes of the locking plate means to urge the locking plate means against the inside Walls of the channel elements and form a rigid, sturdy structure in which the locking post elements and the locking plate means are securely locked in position in the base [and channel assembly. The locking post elements are tubulated throughout a portion of their length and preferably are provided with a solid, rounded lower end. The locking post elements also are provided with positioning means, such as set screws, for vertically positioning supporting column elements which are fitted slid- (ably in the locking post elements. The supporting column elements, in turn, are provided with apparatus engage ment means, such as platforms and clamps, for supporting and mounting the apparatus.

A more detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention is given below with reference to the appended drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view showing an assembled adjustable instrument bench applied to the support of aligned microwave waveguide apparatus; and

FIG. 2 is a similar partial View showing details of a locking plate, locking post, supporting column and waveguide clamp assembly.

The base plate 11 is made of a lightweight, non-magnetic material such as rolled aluminum. Base plate 10 is made with parallel sides 11 and 12 and square ends 13 and 14. The thickness of base plate 10 is chosen so that the base plate will be rigid and sturdy. A thickness of about 1 inch has been found to be suitable for lengths up to about 12 feet and Widths of about 6 inches in the case of aluminum.

Channel bars 15 also are made of a lightweight, nonmagnetic material, such as extruded aluminum. The dimensions of channel bars '15 are chosen so that the assembled stand will be rigid, sturdy and portable. With a 1 inch by 6 inch base plate 10, channel bars 15 having 1 inch flanges 16a and 16b and 2. inch webs or riser-s 17, extruded to A5 inch thickness, have been found to be satisfactory for lengths up to about 12 feet, when aluminum is used.

Channel bars 15 are removably attached to base plate 10 by screws 18. Screws 18 can be of any convenient type adapted for use with a screw driver, socket wrench or other tool, or for finger tightening. The screws :18 are applied through holes spaced along one lower flange 16a of the channel bars 15 and (into threaded engagemerit in threaded holes correspondingly spaced along the opposite sides of base plate 10. The channel bars 15 are mounted, as shown in FIG. 1, with the insides of the channels facing each other, and with the web 17 of each channel bar aligned vertically with the parallel sides 11 and 12, respectively, of base plate 10.

Generally rectangular, elongate, locking plates 29 are mounted transversely between channel bars 15 and in spaced relationship with respect to each other. Each of the locking plates 20 is provided with .at least one threaded hole 21, and sometimes with two spaced internally threaded holes, as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FlG. 2, each locking plate 2.0 is provided with diagonally opposite square corners 20a and diagonally opposite beveled corners 20b. The beveled corners 21th are made so that the locking plate 24 can be easily inserted, positioned and aligned between the channel bars 15. The square corners 29a insure a rigid support and sturdy reinforcement of the resulting structure.

plate is urged upwardly against upper flanges 16b of channel bars so that square corners Zda of the locking plate are tightly engaged against the inside walls of upper flanges 15b. Locking posts 22 are tubulated throughout most or" their length but are solid at their lower ends 22b, and preferably are rounded, as shown. The lower end 22b of a locking post can be supported directly upon the upper surface iila of base plate 19, or upon the upper surface 24a of a block 2%.

Suitable supporting columns 25 are slidably inserted into the tubulated portions of locking posts 22 and are positioned vertically as desired by tightly setting set screws 26 in internally threaded holes topped in locking posts 22, as shown. The upper ends of supporting columns 25 are provided with suitable waveguide apparatus engagement means such as clamps 27 or support plates Z3. As shown in PEG. 1, clamps 27 are used to apport microwave components such as waveguide sections 2% and support plates 2-3 can be used to support larger microwave components of various shapes and configurations. Clamps Z7 and plates 23, as well as blocks 24 can be provided with a black anodized aluminum coating.

It will be seen that the bench is constructed so that alignment of the microwave system or components on a center line is achieved simply and automatically without the use of special tools. The minimum or" parts required for .the bench provides for speedy assembly and convenient, compact storage. Furthermore, the bench is sulficiently rigid and sturdy so that additional levels of support clamps '27 and plates 28 can be added to tall supporting columns 25. In this manner, several levels of microwave apparatus can be conveniently aligned and supported.

it also will be seen that the bench, although rigid and sturdy, is sufficiently light in weight so that complete sections thereof can be move-d. This feature is important when one section of the erected bench, with the supported system thereon, must be moved several times without changing the alignment of the supported system. All parts are non-magnetic so that permanent magnets in some of the supported microwave components are not afiected by ferromagnetic disturbances. The bench also is sufiiciently versatile so that microwave components can be oriented and supported in substantially any direction desired.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above esoription and teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and illustrated hereinabove.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus stand of the type described which comprises a base plate means, spaced parallel channel means attached to the base plate means with the insides of the channels facing each other, locking plate means disposed transversely in the channel means, said locking plate means being provided with threaded hole means, locking post means provided with external threads and threaded into threaded holes of the locking plate means for urging the locking plate means against inside walls of the channel means, said locking post means being tubulated throughout a portion of their length, supporting column means slidably inserted in tubulated portions of the locking post means, positioning means on the locking post means for vertically positioning the supporting column means in the locking post means, and apparatus engagement means attached to the supporting column means for engaging apparatus elements to support and mount the same.

2. An apparatus stand of the type described which comprises an elongate base plate means, space-d parallel channel bar means attached to the base plate means with the insides of the channels fiacing each other, locking plate means disposed transversely in the channel bar means and in spaced relationship with respect to each other, said locking plate means being provided with at least one threaded hole per plate means, locking post means provided with external threads and, threaded into threaded holes of the locking plate means for urging the locking plate means against inside walls of the channel bar means, said locking post means being tubulated throughout most of their length, supporting column means slidably inserted in tubulated portions of the locking post means, set screw means mounted on the locking post means for vertically positioning the supporting column means in the locking post means, and apparatus engagement means attached to the supporting column means for engaging apparatus elements to support and mount the same.

3. An apparatus stand of the type described which comprises an elongate base plate means, spaced parallel channel bar means removably attached to the base plate means at one flange of each of the channel bar means and with the insides of the channels facing each other, locking plate means disposed transversely in the channel bar means and in spaced relationship with respect to each other, said locking plate means being provided with at least one threaded hole per plate means and with opposite ends having a square edge portion and a beveled edge portion to facilitate insertion and alignment of the latching plate means transversely in the channel bar me ans, locking post means provided with external threads and threaded into threaded holes of the locking plate means for urging the square, edge portions of the locking plate means against the inside walls of the other flange of each of the channel bar means, said locking post means being tubulated throughout most of their length, supporting column means slidably inserted in tubulated portions of the locking post means, set screw means mounted on the locking post means for vertically positioning the supporting column means in the locking post means, and apparatus engagement means attached to the supporting column means for engaging apparatus elements to support and mount the same.

4. An adjustable bench of the type described for supporting waveguide systems and the like which comprises an elongate base plate having parallel sides and square ends, a. pair of spaced parallel channel bars removably attached to the base plate with each bar in alignment with :a side of the base plate, said channel bars each being removably attached at one flange thereof and with the insides of the channels facing each other, elongate locking plates each positioned transversely in the channel bars and in spaced relationship with respect to each other, each of said locking plates being provided with at least one threaded hole and with opposite ends having a square edge portion at diagonally opposite corners and a beveled edge portion at diagonally opposite corners to facilitate insertion and alignment of the locking plates transversely in the channel bars, locking posts provided with external threads and threaded into threaded holes of the locking plates for urging the square edge portions of the locking plates against the inside walls of the other flange of each of the channel bars, said locking posts being provided with a solid rounded lower end and tubulated throughout the rest of their length, supporting columns slidably inserted in tubulated portions of the locking posts, set screws mounted on the locking posts for vertically positioning the supporting columns in the locking posts, and Waveguide apparatus engagement means attached to the supporting columns for engaging such apparatus to support and mount the same,

No references cited. 

1. AN APPARATUS STAND OF THE TYPE DESCRIBED WHICH COMPRISES A BASE PLATE MEANS, SPACED PARALLEL CHANNEL MEANS ATTACHED TO THE BASE PLATE MEANS WITH THE INSIDES OF THE CHANNELS FACING EACH OTHER, LOCKING PLATE MEANS DISPOSED TRANSVERSELY IN THE CHANNEL MEANS, SAID LOCKING PLATE MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH THREADED HOLE MEANS, LOCKING POST MEANS PROVIDED WITH EXTERNAL THREADS AND THREADED INTO THREADED HOLES OF THE LOCKING PLATE MEANS FOR URGING THE LOCKING PLATE MEANS AGAINST INSIDE WALLS OF THE CHANNEL MEANS, SAID LOCKING POST MEANS BEING TUBULATED THROUGHOUT A PORTION OF THEIR LENGTH, SUPPORTING COLUMN MEANS SLIDABLY INSERTED IN TUBULATED PORTIONS OF THE LOCKING POST MEANS, POSITIONING MEANS ON THE LOCKING POST MEANS FOR VERTICALLY POSITIONING THE SUPPORTING COLUMN MEANS IN THE LOCKING POST MEANS, AND APPARATUS ENGAGEMENT MEANS ATTACHED TO THE SUPPORTING COLUMN MEANS FOR ENGAGING APPARATUS ELEMENTS TO SUPPORT AND MOUNT THE SAME. 